ArtMania 2009 coming to UH Manoa campus April 5

Second annual free event to showcase multitude of talent

Students and faculty from the UH Manoa Department of Art and Art History invite the public to the second annual ArtMania on Sunday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Art Building. The free event will feature ongoing studio demonstrations, interactive art activities, live music and performances, the sale of T-shirts and student and faculty artwork, and food for purchase by Papa Luck's, a popular campus food vendor.

ArtMania was conceived and organized by graduate art students to invite the community to a lively, intriguing and fun-filled day, to meet arts students and faculty, to develop awareness and interest in the department's work, and to raise funds to support the annual BFA and graduate student exhibitions.

"ArtMania 2008 received such an enthusiastic response, we knew immediately that we had to have ArtMania 2009," said Shannon Leitch, graduate art student and ArtMania committee member. "The students and faculty at the Department of Art and Art History are looking forward to sharing our passion for the arts again. We invite the community to take advantage of this special opportunity to see exciting art demonstrations and performances not usually available to the public."

A variety of art-making demonstrations, activities, performances, exhibitions and sales will be held throughout the day. Demonstrations and activities will include ceramics wheel-throwing and raku firings, blind contour drawing, portrait and live painting, digital printing and bookbinding. There will also be loom, weaving, spinning and crocheting; lithography and printmaking; screen printing of your own T-shirts; small-scale sculpture; bronze-casting; wood-carving; art history lectures; glass blowing and a live glass art auction; and the chance to make your own glass paperweights and sushi tile glass-casting.

For glass activities information, reservations and fees, contact Rick Mills at 956-5258 or rmills8189@aol.com. To make your own glass paperweight, participants must wear long pants, covered shoes and sunglasses.

Performances will include theater, dance, live bands and performance art.

There will be exhibitions and sales, such as an annual glass, ceramics and printmaking sale. Come view the 10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, which features 141 small-scale sculptures no larger than the size of a shoebox created by international artists.

ArtMania 2009 is sponsored by the UH Manoa Department of Art & Art History and the College of Arts and Humanities, and is supported by the Graduate Arts Council, UH Manoa Departments of Music, and Theatre and Dance, Honolulu Magazine and private individuals.